axila lymph node biopsy

[andi721]

I was diagnosed with Stage 1 CA of L breast in 1991 - node neg and estrogen neg.  Had about 16 nodes removed.  17 years later - after years of terrifying mammo's which including cyst draining, needle aspirations, multiple mammo impressions - I was just diagnosed with DCIS R breast from tight cluster microcalcifcations.  If this wasnt frightening enough - a breast surgeon said he felt a little lymph node under my l axilla - the side of my first surgery and thought I should have an ultrasound.  The ultrasound proved non-conclusive so now he wants to remove it citing a75/25 chance of no/yes cancer in it.  Said it could be nothing, a melanoma, a lymphoma or breast cancer.  I also had chemo in 91 for 6months.  I thought if all nodes were negative - you could not get it back in your nodes.  Now, I am finding out that you maybe can.  I have no lump or evidence of CA on the L side where I had a mastectomy.  Now, I am feeling so very scared that if cancer under my armpit this will involve systemic treatment and I still have to deal with the remediation of the DCIS , lympectomy versus mastectomy.  Can anyone give me any positive feedback on whether they have  heard of cancer coming back in a lymph node after breast removal and neg nodes were taken out?  Thank you.

[andi721]

Thank you for your comment.  I know I have a new DCIS in my R breast.  And, I have to figure out what to do about that - lumpectomy versus mastectomy the latter of which I had on  my left side. What I was wondering is if all these lymph nodes were removed 17 years ago and no nodal involvement - is it possible I could get the original cancer back again in one lymph node on the side of my 1991 mastectomy.  My doc said it could be a benign reactive lymph node - 75%nothing 25% something.  I am more fearful, if you can imagine, of what that lymph node biopsy will show versus what I have to do about the DCIS.  

[japdip]

Having had a previous cancer and treatment has nothing to do with having another primary cancer. Lymph nodes can always be involved or the node may be enlarged for some other reason. The Lymphatic system is a kind of filtering system and collects many things .... this could even be due to an infectious process somewhere else in the body and the biopsy will certainly clarify this.   Regards .....